Method for producing cellulose ether derivative

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing a cellulose ether derivative in an industrially convenient and efficient manner by reacting a low-crystalline powdery cellulose with an epoxy compound in the presence of a catalyst.

1 . A process for producing a cellulose ether compound comprising reacting a low-crystalline cellulose with an epoxy compound in the presence of a catalyst. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the epoxy compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of a glycidyl trialkyl ammonium salt represented by general formula (1), glycidol, ethyleneoxide and propyleneoxide, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  to R 3  may be the same or different and are respectively a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and X is a halogen atom. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose ether compound is a cellulose ether compound represented by general formula (2), hydroxyethyl cellulose or hydroxypropyl cellulose, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 4  is a hydrogen atom, a substituent group represented by the following general formula (3) or a substituent group represented by general formula (4) or (5), with the proviso that all of the R 4  groups are not hydrogen atoms at the same time, and the substituent group of the general formula (3) and the substituent group of the general formula (4) or (5) are not present at the same time; and n is a number of from 100 to 2000, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  to R 3  and X are the same as defined above. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction between the low-crystalline cellulose and the epoxy compound is carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of the catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the low-crystalline cellulose has a crystallinity of 50% or less. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein a water content based on the low-crystalline cellulose is 100% by mass or less. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out using a non-aqueous solvent in an amount of 20 times or less the mass of the low-crystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is an alkali metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out using a kneader-type reactor. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 50 mol % on the basis of a glucose unit in a molecule of said low-crystalline cellulose.